Ted Cruz: The ‘biggest loser’ on Capitol Hill — and he couldn’t be happier

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz hasn’t yet been on the winning side of a major policy vote since joining the Senate last month. Indeed, he is the only senator with an unblemished record of zero “wins” and 11 “losses” in the new Congress, according to a story from the Washington Times that dubbed him the “biggest loser” on Capitol Hill.

Cruz wears his perfect losing record as a badge of honor.

“He didn’t come to Washington to make friends; he came to help save the country,” said Sean Rushton, a Cruz spokesman. “Sen. Cruz is proud of his votes and will continue to stand up for America and the Constitution.”

Ted Cruz (Houston Chronicle photo)

Cruz’s determination to stand consistently for conservative values has him on a steady losing streak, and leads critics to wonder if he’s making an impact at all.

Democratic strategist Jim Manley, a former spokesman for Sens. Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy, told the Washington Times that Texans should be demanding freshman Sen. Ted Cruz’s salary back.

“He may be standing on principle, but the fact is he has proven to be an entirely irrelevant to the Senate to date,” Manley said.

Cruz’s senior Senate colleague from Texas, John Cornyn, made the Times’ “biggest loser” list, too, finishing at number five with a 2-for-11 record, tied with Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Three senators placed just behind Cruz with one winning vote: Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah and Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Other than Cornyn, all of the senators on the list were elected with strong support from the Tea Party movement. Of the minority within the minority, only Cornyn has served more than two years in the Senate.

Cruz says he promised his voters a lawmaker who takes a stand, whether it is popular or not. Cruz says he is proud of his votes, and will continue to stand up against the Democrat-majority senate.

The political strategists have spoken. Cruz has spoken. But what do you say, Texas voters? Are you proud of Cruz, or do you want your money back?